The Power of Rational Beings

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Recommended: Importance of freedom of expression in society

Imagine yourself going to the shopping mall and picking out a floral dress at your favorite store, only to have the worker telling you that you cannot have it, that you must have the polka dot dress instead. How would you feel? How does it trigger your emotion? As humans, we despise having the people around us thrusting us to do or choose something that is out of our league. We insist on making the choice ourselves because we have the competence to purposefully determine the path of our journey of life will take. In Article number: 10 of the Malaysian constitution, it has been legislated that, “(a) every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression; (b) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) all citizens have the right to form associations.” (Constitution of Malaysian 6). Being given the freedom of choice allows for opportunities to exhibit determination. “To be self-determined is to endorse one’s actions at the highest level of reflection, when self determined people experience a sense of freedom to do what is interesting, personally important, and vitalizing” (Deci and Ryan 1 of 26). Similarly, Yann Martel portrays about a young man who uses freedom of choice as a coping mechanism. Based upon the novel “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel, the protagonist Pi has the power of freedom of choice. As a result of this freedom, he establishes his faith, learns how endure his hardship on the boat and he gradually develops his character in finding his true self.

The first freedom of choice Yann Martel uses for Pi is freedom of faith where ultimately, it results in Pi establishing his faith in God. One can say that every religion has different concepts of what is right and what is wrong. The term “r...

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Carroll, A. Bruce. 2009. “A Struggle with Faith: Freedom of Religion in Malaysia.” Religion and Human Rights, volume 4, numbers 2–3, 101–106 (cit. 2010–03–08). online text.

Drupadmin. "Killing Animals for Food is Not a Necessity, It is Your CHOICE." Vegetarians of Alberta. 24 May 2006.

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McAdams, D. P. Life authorship: A psychological challenge for emerging adulthood, as illustrated in two notable case studies. Emerging Adulthood, 1. 151-158. 2013.

Pronin, E., Wegner, D. M., McCarthy, K., & Rodriguez, S. (2006). Everyday magical powers: The role of apparent mental causation in the overestimation of personal influence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 218-231.

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